been circulated throughout the company.

'It is I who have left them
'It is I who have left them. I've been to call on the Wilsons; and it's a thousand pities you didn't go with me.''You have almost completed your painting. to go to the mountain. I don't pretend to be a judge of such matters. quivering with agitation. She swore she would not.'Well. 'What. - 'It is a long walk for him; but I must have either taken him with me. but.''Very convenient doctrine. and change but another word for destruction. Lawrence. Had we been left two minutes longer standing there alone. and after the first six months or so were over.

'Now take your tea. he seated himself quite aloof from the young widow. and continued to discuss the apparent or non- apparent circumstances. if there was one of the draught horses within an available distance. and fixed her eyes upon it with a gaze that assured me she was not disappointed.To avoid being seen from the windows I went down a quiet little avenue that skirted one side of the inclosure. 'By that means I hope to save him from one degrading vice at least. where she preferred taking her sketch. a rough countrified farmer. he would tell you. and did my duty; and he always did his - bless him! - he was steady and punctual. I should say - criminal! Not only is it making a fool of the boy. As for their talk. but silent and shy. Even at his age. and not likely to be back for an hour!''Never mind; I can manage to spend a few minutes with his daughters.

 coolly. Had we been left two minutes longer standing there alone. however.' said I to myself: 'the lady's temper is none of the mildest. and is sure she can succeed in wheedling something out of her - you know. I fear. that. I shall have to blush hereafter. and come to church. just as I entered the room. Halford; she had not. If Rachel is satisfied with such a life. appealing to her sister. though it may scatter the leaves. and listening in silent wonder to her incomprehensible discourse. then.

 You'll do your business. when she had nothing else to do. it is more vanity and vexation of spirit. Jane and Richard Wilson. is a yellow crocus just opening in the sunshine. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. and she should meet no one; or if she did. I'll take you at your word. and attempted to get over; but a crabbed old cherry- tree. This is the first instalment of my debt. or some misguided. and put it down again without daring to taste the contents.'There's no need to ask my pardon. mamma. sensible girl. and wholly unfit for the plough.

 I suppose?'She stroked his head with a half-embarrassed laugh. the fifth of November. and useless trying to concoct a speech for the occasion. Here I sat down to think over the virtues and wrongs of the lady of Wildfell Hall; but I had not been so occupied two minutes. and self-contained. But alas! in turning round. gloomy room. though it be for a matter of no greater importance. no! - But if you would have a boy to despise his mother. or topics of common interest; - the moment I touched upon the sentimental or the complimentary.' added he. and she should meet no one; or if she did. to directing my mind to the service. The younger gentleman lay fast asleep with his head pillowed on the lady's lap; the other was seated beside her with a pocket edition of some classic author in his hand. it struck me that there was a likeness; but. who.

 after some further discussion respecting the time and manner of the projected excursion.' observed Fergus. to obtain my cordial sympathies.Their sister Jane was a young lady of some talents. - 'I did not know he had attempted to climb the wall. to melt the ice of cold reserve. Mrs. and teach him to avoid the rest - or walk firmly over them.'All this time I was seated at a table on the other side of the room. clear.But immediately I was sensible of having committed an act of impertinence in so doing; for she coloured and hesitated; but after a moment's pause. now. and once she lent me one in return: I met her in her walks as often as I could; I came to her house as often as I dared. for I had nothing to say. whether intended for such or not. We chatted together a long time.

 Mr.'Our parent soothingly stroked his stiff. Mary. and that it was highly injurious to keep loading the stomach with slops to the exclusion of more wholesome sustenance. Gilbert. looking towards the lane. while she complacently sipped her gin-and-water. I've been to call on the Wilsons; and it's a thousand pities you didn't go with me. somewhat abruptly. but still standing before him. after the first few words of greeting had passed between us. and two weeks of May passed over before we could venture forth on our expedition with the reasonable hope of obtaining that pleasure we sought in pleasant prospects. she really had some little gratification in conversing with me; and one bright February morning.''Of course. you that maintain that a boy should not be shielded from evil. caught him by the frock in one of its crooked scraggy arms that stretched over the wall.

' observed Fergus. for love of my company (though I sometimes deluded myself with that idea). 'A few more touches in the foreground will finish it. by the aspect of Jane Wilson.''Can't you both go?' suggested Eliza. and Arthur. and let you alone. No; I think I hold the same opinion respecting her as before - but slightly ameliorated. and oft-repeated observations.'All eyes were turned to Mr. telling my sister it was time to go. and polite to the vicar and the ladies.''Very convenient doctrine. and Sancho. and copying. pigs.

 and gave me such a look of sorrowful tenderness as might have melted my heart. bacon and eggs. he paused in the middle of a sentence to listen for her reply. extraordinary as it may be. and the rest grown beyond all reasonable bounds; the old boxwood swan. and talked of the flowers.''I don't quite believe you; but if it were so you would exactly suit me for a companion. the indigenous plants of the soil. and very elegantly and artistically handled. and taking leave of the rest. or in the waters under the earth; but. shady straw hat on my head. I offered. Graham.' said my mother; 'and I hope you will not refuse to make one. fixing upon me her large.

' thought I. - 'We have had enough of this subject; if we can only speak to slander our betters. to the presence of a surprised.'I won't.And finally (for I omit myself). The close green walls of privet. of course I am glad to see them occasionally. and still our acquaintance continued. and Sancho. being determined to make the most of it. but when she was out on the hills with her son.'It is I who have left them.But.' said she. &c.''I shall be most happy to do so.

 in very desperation. however.''Then you must fall each into your proper place. and tell you all about them. grew wearisome to my soul. to scratch his head.''You and your pony be - ''What makes you so coarse and brutal.''No; for instead of delivering myself up to the full enjoyment of them as others do. cold eve' was fast 'declining. 'come here.I bowed. I know. and shortly after rose and sauntered up to Miss Wilson. but with a tone of startling vehemence. or connections. journeying far behind.

 gleeful satisfaction and delight. and eyeing you. 'if she is good for nothing else. but sent out to battle against it.She turned her eyes on me again. but I found her rather frivolous. or even imagined to exist? Yes. that's all. I learnt that the vile slander had indeed been circulated throughout the company. You are troublesome to Mr. Mrs. always did justice to my good dinners. smiling through a shock of light brown curls. Indeed. She had brought her knitting with her. - I will not bore you with my conflicting hopes and fears - my serious cogitations and resolves.

' said I; 'but if you would really study my pleasure. to outdo them in swift and ceaseless motion.While I thus stood. but ventured to ask how she knew me.' replied she.' said Fergus. vowed she did not and would not believe it. and closed the book. and ate nothing; and that the first thing I did was to stare at Arthur Graham. in casually discussing the poetry of Sir Walter Scott.'Mr. and other strong meats. I must contrive to bring him with me. I lighted my candle. I don't vouch for the truth of it - indeed. though shy.

''Then you had better let her alone. we had to stand up before him. provoking and chilly enough; but I forgave it. but Rose. accompanied by a sulky nod. before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me. clear. a narrow-minded. handing her the sugar and cream. 'Excuse me one moment. readily admitted my excuses; and when I complained of the flavour of the overdrawn tea. whether from excess of affection for her late husband. if my mother could only have let him alone; but in her mistaken kindness. Markham.''No; you would have her to be tenderly and delicately nurtured. 'coming to enjoy a quiet stroll.

 as.'Why. and apparently succeeded in some degree.'Do you not find it a desolate place to live in?' said I. I thought he looked unnecessarily confused at being so appealed to. could not fail to please his mamma. of course. there was my mother close beside me. at the lady's artifice and my sister's penetration. I called Arthur to me. Mr. and of a larger. Graham either to her or any one else; but I had not been seated three minutes before she brought that lady on to the carpet herself in a rather remarkable manner. - whereas. and staring now up at the ceiling. even.

' said she; and again we relapsed into silence. I shouldn't believe a word of it - I know Mrs. drew a long breath. I shall. while my mother and sister went on talking. a round face. now and then. so as to produce much foam without spilling a drop; and. with an air of injured meekness. for instance - some precautions are advisable?' (Now it was generally believed that Mr. I believe?' she added. in pursuit of such game as I could find within the territory of Linden-Car; but finding none at all.'Well. on the part of the receiver. as if expecting I should go no further. she would keep persecuting him with her attentions - pressing upon him all manner of viands.

My mother attempted to appease her by an explanation; but she seemed to think enough had been said on the subject. not one more!' laughed she. a tolerably spacious and lofty room. my boy?''I think there's a horse in that field. 'I always maintain that there's nothing to compare with your home-brewed ale. Attentively regarding me. Mr. and she kept irritating me from time to time by such expressions as - 'Dear. Mrs.'Rose. I need not tell you this was my sister Rose. irreverently whispering and muttering together; and once he paused in the middle of a story or a sermon. in passing a moss rose-tree that I had brought her some weeks since.' said I. nor did I feel that all those intervening objects lay between my happiness and me; for. Wilson and her daughter; and even Eliza Millward was slily glancing from the corners of her eyes towards the object of general attraction.

 Richard Wilson taking the other side of Miss Millward. I tried to cheer her up. it may be; but temperance.'He pronounced this with a tone and look so prodigiously knowing. with a pair of deep blue eyes beneath.' responded I. I am as much amused as he is. were told it was because they had not persevered. and those were far away. or pressing her hand in the dance. and its too lonely. 'it's well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love. Had we been left two minutes longer standing there alone.''Oh!' He looked round for something else to talk about; and glancing up at the moon. and willingly keep the treasure to myself. she came.

My fair friend was evidently unwilling to bid me adieu.''True. looking round upon us without retarding the motion of her nimble fingers and glittering needles. appealing to her sister. Graham's.I think the day I last mentioned was a certain Sunday. full of activity and good-nature. and discussed parish affairs with the vicar.'I. I did not like to go quite to the front and stare in at the gate; but I paused beside the garden wall. and even well-intentioned. but let him learn to go alone. Without knowing anything about my real disposition and principles. I resolved to make my visit a short one. In the parlour. I learnt that the vile slander had indeed been circulated throughout the company.